How I’m going to use the Sylvania 11-Watt LED.

I got two of these to test and I’ve been trying to figure out how I’m going to use them. I like the idea of controlling and automating them but I still like to turn on and off my light switches manually too.

So here’s what I found.

1) For Iris to control these LED you need to leave your light switch to the “On” position.

If I plan on setting some kind of schedule for them then I need to remember to keep the light switch for “On”.

2) Leaving the light switch in the “off” position will not allow you to control these lights from Iris.

Iris will think the LED are missing and they will be listed as “searching” in your device page. I also notice you will not get any messages that they are disconnected.

3) Regardless of the setting in Iris I can always turn on the lights with the manual light switch.

For example if Iris has scheduled the LED for “off” and when you come home you just need to turn “off” then back “on” the manual light switch to turn on the LED lights.

4) Regardless of the dimming setting in Iris, once you control the manual light switch it will always go from off to 100% illumination. Unless you have a manual dimmer.

5) Turning it off and on the light switch from the app will keep the illumination level.

So what I’m going to be doing with these LED’s?
I’ll be going back to Lowe’s next week and get myself a few more.

I don’t see myself playing with these LED controls from the Iris web/app too often but they will be useful when we plan on mini weekend getaways, or extended vacations, and having the lights on a schedule will just add a extra level of security at home.

I just want to add some information for those who need to troubleshoot this Iris Sylvania LED.

Following the installation instructions, the unit I purchased would not pair with the hub. I spoke with customer care, who instructed me to reset the unit by turning it off and on (at the switch) nine times. The light then flashed once to indicate being reset. After this it paired successfully.

I’m very disappointed in the “magic” controls for these lights. I was expecting to be able to automatically control the light intensity. The only option currently available is to turn the lights on or off at a set intensity. I would prefer to have the lights on at night at a 50% intensity and then change to 100% when the motion sensor is triggered.

Correction – I can’t even turn the lights on at a set intensity. When the lights go on at the scheduled time, they light up at full intensity. The problem is obviously not with the lights. The issue is poor software controls. The IRIS home “automation” software should be much better than this. I’m very dissatisfied. I will likely return the LED lights since it would be easier to use plain dimmable LED lights and control them with a simple dimmer switch.